December, 2019 - 818.Dentist

December 30, 2019December 16, 2019

What to Expect Ahead of a Tooth Extraction?

You can expect a bit of swelling after you’ve had a tooth extracted, but how long will it last? How can you ensure the extraction site heals properly? How long with the procedure last? These questions and more can dominate your thoughts in the days leading up to a tooth extraction, but getting a good idea of what to expect will both take the mystery out of the procedures and put your mind at ease. Find out what you need to know and what you can expect ahead of a tooth extraction.

If Won’t Feel Much During the Procedure

The term, “like pulling teeth” was around before modern medicine incorporated local anesthesia into the tooth extraction process. These days, you won’t feel much, if any, pain during your tooth extraction. After you’ve been administered a dose of a local anesthetic, you won’t feel anything more than a bit of pressure as your dentist works to extract the tooth.

Swelling Is Normal, But It Won’t Last Long

Expect a bit of swelling and tenderness at the tooth extraction site in the first few days following your procedure. You can use ice and anti-inflammatory medications to keep the swelling to a minimum. Applications of ice and doses of anti-inflammatories will help with the swelling and tenderness, but there are many other things you can do to ensure that your tooth extraction aftercare goes smoothly.

Aftercare Tips

Your doctor will send you home with an exhaustive list of steps to take to ensure your aftercare goes smoothly. Some of the things they’ll recommend include the below:

· Make sure you bite down on the gauze your dentist will wrap the extraction site in. Keeping pressure on the extraction site will help the area clot and the bleeding stop.

· Avoid drinking hot beverages, spitting, drinking threw a straw or chewing gum until the clot is fully formed.

· Apply an ice pack to the extraction area in intervals of ten minutes or so

Getting a Tooth Extraction in Van Nuys, CA

Take a brief moment to reserve an appointment with a local dentist to learn more about what to expect ahead of a tooth extraction in Van Nuys, CA.

December 30, 2019December 19, 2019

FAQs: Learn How Dental Implants Can Enhance Your Life

They may seem foreign at first, but in no time at all dental implants will become a natural component of everyday life for you. Using biocompatible material, usually titanium, an oral surgeon can implant dental implants into your mouth in a single appointment. However, it’ll take several appointments before getting to the big day: implant placement day. Find out what goes into getting dental implants placed and learn how this teeth replacement option can enhance the quality of your life.

How do dental implants work?

Dental implants provide support for dental restorations such as dental crowns, bridges and various styles of dentures.

There are several variations in the form factor of dental implants, though the most common style is composed of two primary parts:

The implant post – usually made of titanium, the implant post is a tiny rod that is inserted into pilot holes made in the jawbone.

The abutment – this part sits atop the implant post and sits above the gumline. The abutment services as a connector, to which dental restorations can be affixed.

How will the doctor determine if I’m a candidate?

These are some of the key things your dentist will assess when determining your candidacy for dental implants:

· A need for new teeth

· Sufficient mass and density in the jawbone

· The motivation to see the treatment plan through

How painful is implant placement?

During implant placement, you won’t feel anything more than mild pressure from your dentist’s hands and tools. Local anesthesia will ensure that you experience no discomfort during your procedure.

How soon can I use my new teeth?

It’ll take several months for your implants to heal and fuse with the jawbone. This will take at least four months. However, you’ll be given temporary restoration to use while you wait for your implants to heal enough to support your permanent restoration.

More on Dental Implants in Valley Glen, CA

Take a minute to schedule a consultation with a local dentist to learn more about what you can expect from getting dental implants in Valley Glen, CA and Van Nuys, CA.

December 27, 2019December 19, 2019

How Dentists Use Lasers to Enhance Smiles

Once the stuff of science fiction and now a mainstay in modern medicine, laser light has been proven to be a minimally invasive option to various dental procedures. Laser therapy can deliver results just as good as conventional means, yet allow for faster healing times and much less discomfort. Take a look at some of the many ways dental lasers can be used to enhance your smile.

Removing Decaying Gum Tissue

The conventional means for removing diseased gum tissue entails using a scalpel and other metal tools to carefully trim away infected areas of the gums. The mouth is numbed with local anesthesia before the procedures and the gums are stitched up afterward.

A dental laser can perform the same task without the need to make cuts with a scalpel. The highly focused laser light is more accurate and precise than conventional means, helping your dentist minimize the amount of healthy tissue removed along with the bad.

With laser dentistry, this procedure will entail less bleeding and you’ll likely not need a local anesthetic. On top of that, you won’t need stitches.

Removing Overgrown Gum Tissue

Overgrown gum tissue can make the teeth look shorter and can make for what’s sometimes referred to as “a gummy smile.” Using dental lasers, this overgrown gum tissue can be trimmed and shaped to look more natural and more aesthetically pleasing.

Freeing the Lips or the Tongue

The frenulum, the tissue that attaches the tongue and upper lip to the gums, can restrict the movement of the upper lip or tongue. This can restrict speak and impact the smile. Dental lasers can trim back the frenulum to free up the lip and tongue to move around more naturally, helping the patient speak more clears and smile more confidently.

Talk with a Dentist in Van Nuys, CA

Take a moment to schedule a consultation with a local dentist in Van Nuys, CA to learn more about laser dentistry and how this sector of dentistry can elevate your smile.

December 23, 2019December 19, 2019

Reasons Why Someone Might Need a Tooth Extraction

These days, your dentist will give you something more effective than a few shots of liquor to help you get through a tooth extraction. Though times have changed, and technology too, the reasons someone might need a tooth extraction haven’t changed. Take a look at some of the top reasons someone would need a tooth extraction.

Most Commons Reasons for a Tooth Extraction

There are many more reasons a person may require a tooth extraction, but the causes listed below are among the most common:

Gum Disease and Tooth Decay – advanced gum disease can attach the gums and other structures supporting the teeth, decaying a tooth by its very foundation.

Wisdom Teeth and Crowding Issues – when there isn’t enough room in the mouth for more teeth, new teeth can crowd established teeth and know them out of alignment. This is most common with wisdom teeth. A tooth extraction can prevent a crowding issue.

Facial Trauma – trauma to the mouth can chip, crack or break a tooth beyond repair, requiring an extraction.

Dental Implants – if someone has deciding to replace failing teeth with dental implants, extractions may be needed to remove any failing teeth.

Will Having a Tooth Extracted Hurt?

You’ll experience more discomfort after your tooth extraction than during it. That’s not to say the pain after extraction will be unbearable or that you can expect any degree of physical discomfort during the procedure. After a shot of local anesthesia, you won’t feel any discomfort during the procedures.

And afterward, you’ll only need common over-the-counter painkillers to manage the tenderness and swelling you experience for the first few days after the tooth extraction. In just a few days, the inflammation and soreness will go away. From there, the only thing you’ll need to keep in mind will be keeping the extraction site clear of food debris as the area continues to heal.

More on Tooth Extractions in Van Nuys, CA

Take a moment to schedule a consultation with a local dentist to learn more about tooth extractions in Van Nuys, CA.

December 20, 2019December 19, 2019

Tooth Extractions and Dental Implants: Pulling Teeth to Place Teeth

Losing a permanent tooth can be distressing, a feeling that snowballs as more teeth follow. So it can be difficult for some dental implant candidates to let go of the few remaining teeth they have in order to get a full set of dental implants and replacement teeth. Your doctor’s recommendation or whether to pull or work with any remaining natural teeth will depend heavily on each tooth left.

Find out what considerations your dentist may raise about tooth extractions for dental implants and take a look at some of the reasons you might want to preserve remaining natural teeth.

Why You Should Let Go of Natural Teeth

When a tooth is lost, it can also trigger the loss of bone in the area of the jawbone where the tooth was once rooted. Your dentist will look at the jawbone under any remaining natural teeth to gauge whether the teeth will last you the rest of your life or fail on you. If the bone under your remaining teeth is deteriorating, your dentist will strongly recommend replacing them with dental implants.

Benefits of Removing Teeth to Prepare for Dental Implants

Removing failing teeth gives your oral surgeon the ability to make you a stronger candidate for dental implants. If you have been experiencing bone loss in the jawbone – due to aging, chronic health issues, tooth loss or gum disease – your dentist can graft bone material to help fortify your jawbone for dental implants.

Reasons You Might Want to Preserve Remaining Teeth

If you’ve got solid jawbone supporting your remaining natural teeth, you may feel more compelled in wanting to save those remaining teeth. Your oral surgeon and team can work with your situation to help incorporate your remaining natural teeth into your dental implant journey. Because ultimately, your dental implant journey is about your happiness.

More on Tooth Extractions in Van Nuys, CA

Take a moment to schedule a consultation with a local dentist to learn more about dental implants and tooth extractions in Van Nuys, CA.

December 20, 2019December 19, 2019

Top Things to Know About Full Arch Dental Implants

full arch dental implants lake balboa ca

The decision to get full arch dental implants marks a new chapter in your life. It’s no small decision and there are several appointments on the road to getting dental implants, but the months of consultations and the healing periods pale in comparison to again having fully functioning teeth that can last you the rest of your life. Take a closer look at dental implants and go over some of the top things you need to know about full arch dental implants.

What are full arch dental implants?

In dentistry, an “arch” is one of the two areas where teeth grow into. Your top teeth are on one arch, the bottom teeth on another. In terms of replacing teeth, full arch dental implants are a set of implants, usually four to six, that can support a full row of replacement teeth.

What are the benefits?

Beyond restoring the ability to eat without difficulty and to speak clearly, full arch dental implants have several benefits that make them superior to all other teeth replacement options:

· Stability – as dental implants heal, the fuse with the jawbone. This foundation nears the strength of natural teeth, providing biting and chewing function that’s superior to conventional dentures.

· Longevity – though lower-end restorations use acrylic parts, the mid to high-end solution are composed of parts that can last you the rest of your life – with proper maintenance.

· Maintenance – maintaining full arch dental implants and the restoration takes less effort than conventional dentures, which generally needs to be soaked every night.

· Appearance – they look more natural, thanks to their stability.

What does it take to become a strong candidate?

These are the elements of a strong candidate for full arch dental implants:

· Missing teeth

· Healthy jawbone to support implants. There are procedures your dentist can perform to improve the strength of your jawbone.

· Desire to stay the course over the months it takes to get implants

More on Full Arch Dental Implants in Lake Balboa, CA

Take a brief moment to schedule a consultation to learn more about your options for getting full arch dental implants in Lake Balboa, CA and Van Nuys, CA.

December 19, 2019December 19, 2019

What Are the Types of Implant-Supported Dentures?

They’re viewed by some people as a budget-friendly option for getting dental implants and replacing a full row of teeth. Implant-supported dentures are indeed a high-value, low-cost way to getting dental implants and replacement teeth. However, there’s more than one type of implant-supported dentures. Take a look at how implant-supported dentures work, learn about the variations of this restoration style and then find out the things you’ll want to know as you consider your options for replacement teeth.

How Implant-Supported Dentures Work

Implant-supported dentures use anywhere from two to six dental implants to support specialized dentures. The dental implants are strategically implanted in the jawbone, providing a reliable foundation for dentures. Over time, the titanium dental implants will fuse with the jawbone and will near the reliably of natural teeth as the implants heal. After the implants have healed, your dentures will attach your removable dentures to them.

Types of Implant-Supported Dentures

There are several variations of implant-supported dentures, but there are two primary styles:

Ball Retained Dentures – the abutment, the part of the implant that sits above the gum line, is equipped with a ball that snaps into a socket on the dentures. So each implant snaps onto a connection on the underside of the dentures.

Bar Retained Dentures – metal bars connect each implant, on the same row of teeth, to spread the load the implants will bear from the dentures. The dentures will clip onto the metal bars.

Considerations

Implant-supported dentures offer the lowest entry point into the market for dental implants and replacement teeth. However, you don’t have to stay at that entry point. If you’re interested in one day upgrading to an even more reliable restoration than implant-supported dentures, be sure to express these desires to your dentist during the consultation phase of your dental implant journey.

More on Implant-Supported Dentures in Van Nuys, CA

Take a brief moment to schedule a consultation with a local dentist to learn more about your options for implant-supported dentures in Van Nuys, CA.

December 18, 2019December 16, 2019

Gum Disease Treatment: How a Dentist Treats Sore, Swollen Gums

It might not have been too difficult to ignore, until it was. The early signs of gum disease can be disturbing, but much easier for some people to brush out than the advanced stages of gum disease. When the soreness of the gums won’t go away, the bleeding while brushing is routine, and the gums appear to be receding, it’s past time to call in the heavies. There’s a lot a dentist can do to get your gum disease under control and your oral health back on track – all you have to do is ask. Take a look at some of the many things your dentist can do to treat your gum disease.

Deep Cleaning – Scaling and Root Planing

Often called a “deep cleaning” outside dentist’s office and “scaling and root planing” within, this pair of related procedures can be a powerful combination in helping get gum disease under control.

When tartar, hardened plaque, dips below the gum line, it takes a little more than a standard teeth cleaning procedure. Take a look at the main elements of a deep cleaning:

Scaling – after anesthesia is administered to mute any discomfort, the gums are pulled back. From there, your dentist will carefully remove any tartar from the roots of your teeth.

Root planing – with the tartar removed, your dentist will smooth over the roots of your teeth so that the gums re-adhere to them uniformly. This procedure helps reduce or eliminate the bacterial pockets tartar creates between the teeth and gums.

Osseous Surgery

Taking scaling and root planing even further, this procedure seeks to removed tartar from the roots of teeth as well as diseased tissue. Removing disease hard and soft tissue beneath the gums and around the teeth will limit the spread of gum disease.

Periodontal Maintenance

In some cases, one appointment for scaling and root planing isn’t enough to get a case of gum disease back under control. If your dentist recommends periodontal maintenance, you may need a deep cleaning every few months until your gum disease can be managed without it.

Talk to a Dentist in Van Nuys, CA

Take a moment to schedule a consultation with a dentist in Van Nuys, CA to learn more about your options for gum disease treatment.

December 18, 2019December 16, 2019

Dental Implants: A Force Multiplier for Conventional Dentures

It’s likely, you’ve heard all the common complaints about conventional dentures for most of your life. Their adhesives break down and they slip out of place. They need adjusting and can irritate the gums. They don’t provide enough cutting power, so some food has to be cut up or left off the menu. But dentures can be so much more when they’re combined with dental implants. Take a look at how dental implants and dentures combine to deliver performance that nears that of natural teeth.

How Dental Implants Add Stability to Dentures

Whether supported by adhesives or dental implants, dentures seek to transfer the force of the jaws into biting and grinding function. In the case of conventional dentures, that force transfer falls apart when adhesives break down.

With dental implants, your dentures will be affixed to strategically placed titanium rods that are implanted in the jawbone – the same way that the roots of natural teeth take root in the jawbone. Over a few months, the titanium will fuse with the jawbone, providing support that can last you the rest of your life.

Synergy: The Benefits of Implant-Supported Dentures

The stability of dental implants nears that of natural teeth, providing implant-supported dentures significant benefits over dentures that rely on adhesion:

More on the menu – no more cutting up food to make them manageable with dentures. The stability afforded by dental implants will allow you to eat tough, fibrous and chewy foods.

More confidence – you won’t have to worry about your dentures slipping out of place

Less maintenance – You won’t have to clean off and reapply adhesives

Considerations: Upgradeable

While implant-supported dentures are a big step up from conventional dentures, there a few restoration options that are even better. You can keep your implant-supported dentures for the rest of your life, or you could upgrade them to full arch dental implants in the future.

More on Dental Implants in Panorama City, CA

Take a moment to schedule a consultation with a local dentist to learn more about your options for getting dental implants in Panorama City, CA and Van Nuys, CA.

December 16, 2019December 16, 2019

Setting Out on Your Dental Implant Journey: What to Expect

It can take the better part of a lifetime for the permanent to fail and begin to fall out. But within roughly a year, you can replace those missing teeth with the next best option: dental implants. Knowing what to expect along your dental implant journey can help ensure you have the best experience possible. Take a look at some of the key things you can expect as you embark on the road to replace failed or missing teeth with dental implants.

Exams and Consultations

The moment to truth starts with your very first consultation on dental implants. It’s during this consultation that you’ll find out whether you’re a good candidate for dental implants, a strong candidate or a that they aren’t right for you.

Your dentist will take CT scans of your mouth to determine if your jawbones are strong enough to support dental implants – and if not, whether a supporting procedure could improve your candidacy for dental implants.

Supporting Procedures

If you’re a strong candidate for dental implants, you’ll march right past this point to your implant placement procedure. If you’re a good candidate who needs a bit of work, these are some of the procedures you may need before implant placement:

Bone grafting – this procedure will help strengthen weak areas of your jawbone and regenerate bone. You’ll need several months to heal before moving to implant placement.

Tooth extractions – this procedure can be done on the day of implant placement.

Ridge preservation – this procedure helps preserve a socket after a tooth has been extracted from it. It can be done months or years ahead of placement.

Implant Placement

The big day won’t take up much of your day. Generally, a dentist can place a full set of implants in just one appointment. Your dentist will use surgical guides to help place the implants quickly, efficiently and in optimal position to maximize the support the implants provide.

More on Dental Implants in Valley Glen, CA

Take a moment to set an appointment with a local dentist to learn more about what to expect along your journey toward getting dental implants in Valley Glen, CA and Van Nuys, CA.

Month: December 2019